Car truck



April 16, 1935.

G; A. SUCKFIELD CAR TRUCK Filed May 6, 1932 FIE. BY

Patented Apr. 16, 1935 UNITED STATES CAR TRUCK George A. Suckfield, Avalon, Pa., assignor to Pressed Steel Car Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 6, 1932, Serial No. 609,614

9 Claims.

My invention relates to the trucks as used under railroad freight cars and particularly the truck side frames. Heretofore the side frames were designed to receive only one size of journal 7 box and when the journal box was increased in size it necessitated the providing of a new side frame. Since freight cars are usually rated from 30 to 50 tons in capacity, the increased capacity of one class over the other being tons, there are required four designs of side frames, to receive established standard sized journal boxes, wheels and axles. If the side frames could be designed to receive two or more sizes of journal boxes the number of different sized side frames could be 5 materially reduced, thereby reducing the number of frames required to be carried in stock as well as the cost of manufacturing.

An object of my invention is to provide a truck side frame having separable journal boxes and adapted to receive different standard sizes of such journal boxes. I

Since the changes in capacity of the side frame will also necessitate the use of different sized truck bolsters and location of brake hangers, it is also an object of myinvention to provide such a side frame which will accommodate different sized bolsters and provide for different locations of the brake hangers.

In the drawing accompanying my description Fig. 1 shows in side elevation one half of a side frame embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan View of the side frame in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a view looking at the bottom of the side frame; Fig. 4 is asection taken on lines 4-4 of Fig. l;

v Fig. 5 is a plan view of the adapter; Fig. 6 is a section taken along lines B6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a section through the brake hanger bracket wear plate. 7

Referring now in detail to the drawing, reference character I indicates a side frame having the usual tension member 2, compression member 3 and bolster guide columns 4, all cast integrali The ends of the compression member 3 are provided with suitable bearing portions 5 which rest upon the journal box (not shown). The tension members 2 have brackets 6 to which the journal box tie bar I may be attached. The ends of the compression members 3 and tie bars I have suitably spaced openings therein through which bolts 50 may be passed. These bolts either embrace the journal box or are secured to the journal box and maintain the journal box and side frame in fixed relation to each other.

The bolster guide columns 4 of the frame serve 55 to space the tension and compression member -is in one position the opening is in proper posi- .gral with the compression member are spaced to and are adapted to receive the truck bolster. The truck bolster (not shown) is provided with means for embracing the guides 4.

Referring now to Fig. l of the drawing the bracket 6 of the tension memberis so disposed 5 that a tie bar 1 secured thereto extending beneath the bearing portion 5 of the tension member will be spaced from the bearing portion the correct distance to receive the larger journal box. The tie bar 'i has the openings 8 therein properly 10 spaced to receive the journal box bolts.

The compression member of the frame being an integral part of the frame and the spacing of the bolts for the larger and smaller sized journal boxes being 'so close as to makeimpractical 15 the use of separate holes, the openings 9 in the compression member for receiving the journal box bolts are elongated and an adapter it inserted therein. The adapter is T-shaped in cross section with the top portion if supported on the compression member and the depending portion I2 engaging the opening 9. An opening it is formed in the adapter It to receive the journal box bolt and is so disposed that when the adapter tion to receive the bolt for the larger sized journalbox and when turned through an angle of 189 degrees is in a position to receive the bolt for the smaller sized journal box. The lugs 15 cast inteengage the heads of the journal box bolts and prevent their turning.

Since the several standard journal boxes for the different sized axles vary in width and height a filler I4 may be inserted between the bearings 35 on the compression member and the journal box when a smaller sized journal box is used. The tie bar I is also of different sizes for the different sized boxes but are each arranged to fit the bracket 6.

' The operation of the invention as applied, for example, to a side frame for use beneath 30 and 40 tons capacity cars is as follows: The side frame is designed to carry the larger capacity car and a tie bar having holes spaced to receive the bolts of the larger size box is mounted on the bracket 6 of the tension member. The adapters H] are inserted in the openings of the compression member so as to take the greatest spacing of the journal box bolts. The larger sized journal boxes are then placed beneath the bearings of the compression member and bolts placed through the bearings and tie bars securing the boxes in position.

When it is desired to use the smaller sized boxes the adapters III are rotated 180 degrees and a tie bar I having suitable spaced bolt openings, is secured to each bracket 6. The smaller journal box is then mounted between the compression member of the frame and the tie bar with the bolts inserted through the openings in the member and tie bar. If desired, a filler l4 may be inserted between the top of the box and the compression member so as to avoid extremeoflsets in the tie bar.

At the bolster opening the column members 4 are spaced to receive the larger bolster and when a smaller bolster is used the shim 20 is inserted between the bolster and column. This shim 20 is preferably secured to the column by means of countersunk head bolts, the openings in the shim being countersunk to receive the bolt heads.

Since the change in the bolster, wheels and axles and journal boxes is usually attended by a change .in location of .the brake heads the brake hanger usually .changes in location. To provide for this, the brake hanger bracket 16 has mounted therein a wear plate IT. This wear plate'comprises a portion H! to receive the brake hanger and a flange 19 on the portion (8 which serves to space the hanger from the side frame. The flange 19 embraces one side of the bracket 46 forone location of the hanger and is rotated to engage the other side of the bracket for the other location of the hanger.

From the .above description it will be apparent that there has been provided a side frame which will not only permit changes in the size of the journal boxes, wheels andaxles but also the other members-of the truck-and at the same time permit the use of established standard sizes of these truck members.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as :new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a side frame and a removable journal box, bolts securing said box to said frame and detachablemeans on said frame providing variable spacing of said bolts longitudinally of said frame.

2. In combination, a side frame having a removable journal box, an elongated opening in said frame for receiving a bolt to secure the box to the frame and a member mounted 'in said elongated-opening and surrounding said bolt.

3. In combination, a side frame having a removable journal box, an elongated opening in said frame for receiving the bolts to 'securethe box to the "frame and a T-shaped member seated in said opening and having an opening to receive the bolts.

4. Ina side :frame having ,a removable journal the box to said frame, a member detachably seated in each opening and having an aperture therein adapted for close cooperation with one of said bolts, said aperture being eccentrically disposed between the ends of said member.

6. In a truck side frame adapted for use in different capacity railway car trucks, in combination, tension and compression members joined at their ends and spaced apart intermediate said ends by bolster column guides, bearing surfaces on said columns and end portions of the frame for the reception of a bolster and journal boxes respectively, a brake hanger bracket, 'a bearing on said bracket for a brake hanger, said joiunal box, bolster, and hanger bracket bearings being disposed for use in the larger capacity truck and detachable shim members for cooperating with said bearings when the frame is used in a smaller capacity truck and means cooperating with said journal box bearings for maintaining the journal boxes in fixed relation longitudinally f said frame.

7. In aside frame and journal box connection,

.a bearing on the frame engaging the roof of said box, members fastening the box to said frame bearing and means cooperating with said members and side frame to provide for the reception of various sized journal boxes.

8. sInaside frame andjournal box connection, a bearing on the frame for the roof of-said box, fastening members securing the box to the frame and engaging within said frame bearing, and means cooperating with said fastening .members and frame bearing providing a variable spacing of the fastening members.

'9. In a car'truck of the character described, a side frame having a journal box bearing adjacent each end thereof, a bolster opening intermediate the ends thereof and a brake hanger bracket on opposite sides of the bolster opening, and means detachably engaging said journal box bearing, bolster opening and bracket, adapting the frame to receive the various sized associated parts of trucks of different capacities below a given maximum.

GEORGE A. SUCKFJELD. 

